Michael Broomhead

Drivers will face at least another month of delays at Horns Bridge roundabout, council chiefs have confirmed this morning.

Roadworks at the busy gateway to Chesterfield are expected to be removed soon after the August Bank Holiday – depending on weather conditions.

Groundworks at the island started on Monday, July 14 ahead of a controversial £300,000 sculpture being placed there in September.

A number of lanes around the roundabout have been closed and the traffic lights switched off – causing traffic misery at busy times.

Chesterfield Borough Council has been working with the contractors Killingley and Derbyshire County Council in a bid to speed up work.

Councillor John Burrows, the borough council’s leader and executive member for regenration, said: “We have spoken to the contractors and been assured that the current traffic control at the island is necessary for safety reasons.

“The county council is also looking at measures to ease the strain on the A617, which is the most congested route into the town.

“Killingley has revised its schedule so that the work on Horns Bridge island takes place over as short a period as possible. This includes carrying out work off-site and working additional night shifts and at weekends.

“The good weather over the last week has helped them carry out the work quicker than anticipated and we hope this will continue allowing them to finish the project early.”

The sculpture, called Growth, by local artist Melanie Jackson, will feature a wheel to symbolise the town’s strong industrial heritage.

The overall project is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

A spokesman for the borough council added: “The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Barratt Homes – this funding can only be used for this purpose and cannot be used to fund any other council service.

“The idea for the statue came from the business community asking the council to make the entrance points to the town more attractive and Growth was chosen by residents and business leaders in a consultation last year.”